Johannesburg Journals

South Africa Part 5 or 7

Best of IgoUgo

An October 2003 trip to Johannesburg by KenDurham

Train Ride Photo - Gold Reef City, Johannesburg, South Africa More Photos
Quote: This trip is for seven weeks as a Global Guide Exchange participant with RCI.

South Africa Part 5 or 7

Overview

Gold Reef City Photo - Johannesburg, South Africa
Quote:
My fifth week is over and my impressions of South Africa are as follows: 1. The people that have lived here all their lives are PASSIONATE about their country. 2. The people that have lived here all their lives are PASSIONATE about their heritage. 3. The people here love to TRAVEL, not just in their own country, but throughout the world. 4. The people here love to experience LIFE to the fullest. 5. The people here are PROUD of their diversity in being the Rainbow nation of South Africa.Quick Tips: Bring a hat, sun screen, and light clothing. If traveling in the bush, DO NOT get out of your vehicle and DO follow the ranger's suggestions. Best Way To Get Around...Read More

Boston BBQ at Gold Reef City Casino

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Restaurant | "Boston BBQ"

Quote:
Located in the heart of the Gold Reef Casino are several different restaurants. The Boston BBQ restaurant is the most unique. Here everyone can find food that is to their liking. It is an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord type restaurant. However, instead of one long set of serving tables to choose from, the entire area is divided up into different booths. There is a Chinese area, an Italian area, salad bar zone, a wild game (African style) selections, a selection of regular fairs (beef, pork, chicken), a fish department and an entire section devoted to the dessert fanatic. In the wild game section they had crocodile, duck, springbok, and zebra . Each had a different taste, and none tas...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 28, 2003

Boston BBQ at Gold Reef City Casino
14 Northern Park Way
Johannesburg, South Africa

Leopard Lodge

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Restaurant

Looking over Hartbeespoort Dam Photo - Leopard Lodge, Johannesburg, South Africa
Quote:
Just north of Johannesburg, there are many game ranges, resorts and specialty compounds. One of these is the "Leopard Lodge," nestled under the cliffs of the Magaliesberg Mountains. When you turn off the highway, you are confronted with a very high wire gate on a dirt road. The security guard has a list to check you in, and as you enter, you realize that you have left civilization and entered the wilds of Africa. The only evidence that man is there can be seen through either the two-track dirt road or the line of telephone poles leading up to the top of the ridge. As you drive along, you can see various wild animals on the property. Due to the fact that we were there during midday, most animals...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 11, 2004

Leopard Lodge
PO Box 400, Broederstroom, 0240, South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
12 207-1130

African Footprints

Attraction | "African Footprint - Part 1"

Quote:
A new beginning for the Children of Africa. WOW! What a show. WOW! What a performance. WOW! What a message. Gold Reef Theatre proudly presents the world famous musical "African Footprint". That is what the billboard should, would and could read for this play. Richard Loring’s lasting tribute to the people and land called Africa is a landmark that should not be missed. This musical brings to life the history and culture of a land that is so diverse that one can scarcely take it all in in just one sitting. From the depths of the emerging Children of Africa through the fireside chant "Kealebogo", from the bushmen and Sophiatown to the dueling footprints and ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 3, 2003

African Footprints
Gold Reef Ctiy
Johannesburg, South Africa

African Footprints

Attraction | "African Footprint - part 2"

Quote:
A new beginning for the Children of Africa. – page 2 A blackened stage, a time before time began. Your senses are impregnated with one view. There seemingly hanging in space is a relief map of the African continent, where all life began, where time began. Slowly this sleeping giant awakens. A slow beat of a solitary heart is heard in the distance by the beating of a drum. As the drummer continues the words are repeated "this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful country, South of Africa." Man then conquers and becomes the warrior of the land. The words of the song state "When the Sun first rose, it found us awake and waiting. We rode the wind, we silenced the hurricane. Look at us...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2003

African Footprints
Gold Reef Ctiy
Johannesburg, South Africa

African Footprints

Attraction | "African Footprint - part 3"

Quote:
A new beginning for the Children of Africa - page 3 “You, Me,” depicts the other side of the ongoing struggle from the two women’s point of view. The man’s wife comes from a simpler way of life: raising a family, a home, gathering food--the daily routine of survival. While the woman from the glitzy nightlife tries to draw the man into her web. In the end they realize, like the men, how to resolve their differences, because they are really the same. As people of Sophiatown were expressing their life through tapping another form of expression was developing in the mining camps. It was the gumboot dances. Eventually both forms would meet and the struggle would continue between the tapers ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2003

African Footprints
Gold Reef Ctiy
Johannesburg, South Africa

Gold Reef City

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Attraction

Train Ride Photo - Gold Reef City, Johannesburg, South Africa
Quote:
This is a theme park for all ages. It is built over the old Gold Reef City mine that shut down in 1971. The park contains a casino, eatery, theatre, hotel, amusement park, gold mine with tours, and specialty shops. On Friday night we had attended the performance of the musical "African Footprint" (see the separate article) and had supper at the "Boston BBQ" restaurant (see the separate article). On Saturday afternoon we arrived to experience the outside venues. We headed directly to the train station just inside the gates. This was a short ride around the amusement park that allowed us to see an overall view of the place. When we disembarked we headed for the shopping area. Here ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 3, 2004

Gold Reef City
Shaft 14, Northern Parkway
Johannesburg, South Africa 2159
+27 11 248 6800

Apartheid Museum

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Attraction

Chameleons Photo - Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa
Quote:
From 1948 to 1991, segregation was a way of life in South Africa. You were either white or colored (black). If you were not white, then you had nothing. If you were not white, then you were treated as nothing. Activists, such as Nelson Mandela, were jailed for their beliefs. Others died by the thousands. The segregation in North America was minor compared to that of South Africa. Finally, that came to a legal end in 1991. Then we see Mr. Mandela being released from jail and eventually being elected President of South Africa. In 2002, the Apartheid Museum was opened here in Johannesburg. It is a modern cement building and the exhibits inside can be shocking and are definite...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 4, 2004

Apartheid Museum
Northern Parkway & Gold Reef Road 2001
Johannesburg, South Africa
+27 11 309 4700

A week in the life of an RCI Agent

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Story/Tip

Braziliam Coffee shop Photo - Johannesburg, South Africa
Quote:
Monday to Friday was the basic hours working on the phone. There was an UNEXPECTED CHANGE to the weather over the weekend. The temperature plummeted to under 10 degrees Celsius at night and did not get much warmer during the day. This is a major dilemma for people here, as construction of homes and offices are not designed for cold temperatures. Also, there are very few heaters in homes or offices. So the major thing on the weekend was for me to find WARM clothing. There is a chain of department stores called "Mr Price" that are similar to K-Mart in the USA and Zellers in Canada. Friday night after work we headed out to the Gold Reef City Casino Complex. We ate supper at th...Read More
Valley view 1 Photo - Johannesburg, South Africa
Quote:
The Hartbeespoort dam region is a focal point for many different people and activities. The lake created by the dam has brought people from all walks of life to the area for the associated activities surrounding the water. The landscape of the region is vast as well. From the desert-like conditions to the rocky mountain cliffs, to the lush vegetation around the lake, there is something for all. There is the cable-car trip on the longest single cable in Africa. It is on the Arendsnes farm. In English that means "Eagle’s Nest." This area is the home of the Black Eagle, which is on the endangered species list. This eagle has a white V of feathers on its back and white panels under its wings. It is...Read More